Apparatus for turning leaves



March 18, 1958 D. s. BOYD APPARATUS FOR TURNING LEAVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

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ATTORN 4 March 18, 1958 D; s. BOYD APPARATUS FOR 'IZURNING LEAVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

United States Patent 2,826,842 APPARATUS FOR TURNING LEAVES Donald S. Boyd, Kansas City, Kans. Application December 13 1954, Serial No 474,843

10 Claims. (c1. 40 104 7 This invention relates to leaf turning apparatus and more particularly to a machine for automatically and continuously turning the leaves of a pack thereof to vdispose faces thereof successively to view for advertising and other purposes.

It is the most important object of the instant invention to improve upon the leaf turners of U. S/Letters Patent Nos. 1,630,290; 1,689,106; 2,551,485; and 2,574,013.

More particularly, it is an object of the instant invention to improve upon leaf turners of said prior patents with respect to the means for completing the rotation of the binding or hanger for the pack of leaves after the last leaf thereof has been turned.

Another important object of the instant invention is to provide improvements in apparatus of the kind disclosed by said patents to the extent of providing novel, positively operating and trouble-free locking means for holding the shaft from which the pack is suspended, against rotation until the last leaf is turned and the said binding is to be rotated with the shaft.

A still further object of this invention is to provide novel braking means adapted for use in connection with the improved lock assembly for retarding the speed of rotation of the shaft during the last step of the cycle of operation of the apparatus.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a transverse, vertical, cross-sectional view showing the apparatus for turning leaves made pursuant to my instant invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the position of parts at the time of turning the last leaf of the pack.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 2, further illustrating the action that takes place during rotation of the binder for the leaves and the shaft from which the same are suspended.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed, crosssectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, detailed, cross-sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 5.

While the apparatus for turning leaves forming the subject matter of the present invention is shown substantially in its entirety by the accompanying drawings, the disclosures of the aforementioned patents are incorporated herein by reference for a full and complete understanding of the principles of operation of structure of this type.

All of the operating mechanism of the apparatus is preferably enclosed within a hollow cabinet broadly designated by the numeral 10, having a transparent panel 12 in the front wall 14 thereof having dimensions substantially equivalent to the dimensions of leaves 16 associated together in a pack 18 within the cabinet and suspended fr a i n a af 20 t ab e on its long d nal. horizontal axis.

2,826,842 Patented Mar. 18, 1958 ICC The rear wall of the cabinet 10 is formed in part by an access panel 22 releasably held in place by any suitable fastening means not shown.

The shaft 20 spans the distance between end walls 24 and 26 of the cabinet 10 adjacent its top wall 28 through the medium of a bearing 30 secured to the inner face of wall 26. A plate 32 attached to the inner face of wall 24 has a bushing 34 as shown in Fig. 7 for rotatably receiving the opposite end of the shaft 20.

Sprocket wheels 36 and 38 freely rotatable on the shaft 20 adjacent the ends thereof, receive endless chains 40 and 42 respectively that are likewise trained around sprocket wheels that are rigidly connected to a lowermost shaft 44 parallel with the shaft 20. The sprocket wheel for chain 40 is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and designated by the numeral 46. Shaft 44 is rotatably carried by the walls 24 and 26 in any suitable manner not shown.

The descending stretches of the continuous chains 40 and 42 are held deflected or bent toward the ascending stretches of the chains 40 and 42 by idler sprockets substantially as shown in my Patents 2,574,013 and 2,551,485, one of such idler sprockets being designated in Fig. l by the numeral 48. Chains 40 and 42 are interconnected by :a plurality of spaced cross bars 50.

A suction fan or blower 52 mounted in the cabinet 10 at the bottom thereof, is driven by a suitable prime mover such as an electric motor 54 that likewise drives the shaft 44 and accordingly, the sprocket wheels 46 thereon through belt and pulley means broadly designated by the numeral 56. Artificial currents of :air created by the blower 52 are exhausted from the cabinet through a foraminous panel 58 forming a part of the back Wall of the cabinet 10. Such currents of air are drawn into a chamber 60 within the cabinet 10 through a foraminous inlet 62 and the air currents escape from the chamber 60 through an opening 64 in a vertical partition 66.

The faces of the sheets or leaves 16 exposed to view through the transparent panel 12, may be illuminated by elongated lamps 68 extending from the chamber 60 to the top wall 28 adjacent the panel 12.

' The pack 18 is mounted on the shaft 20 for suspension directly therebeneath in the manner shown in Fig. 1 by a binding that includes a pair of opposed clamping plates 70 and 72 interconnected by releasable fasteners 74 that pass through the leaves 16. Clamping plate 70 is joined directly to the shaft 20 at the rear thereof as by welding and the clamping plate '72 extends forwardly and thence upwardly and rearwardly into an elongated, hollow shell 76 that is arcuate or substantially semicircular in trans verse cross-section. It is desirable that the shell 76 be provided with a covering 78 of cloth, felt or other soft material.

A releasable locking mechanism for normally holding the shaft 20 against rotation, includes a disc 80 rigidly secured to the shaft 20 for rotation therewith adjacent the plate 32. Circular disc 80 has a track 82 adjacent its periphery 83 facing the sprocket wheel 36 that is annular except only for the provision of a notch 84 for receiving a roller 86.

Roller 86 is mounted on the free end of one leg 88 of an L-shaped latch 90 swingable on a vertical axis between a pair of cars 92 extending inwardly from the plate 32. The other leg 94 of the swingable latch 90 carries a roller 96. A leaf spring 98 mounted on the plate 32 bears against the leg 88 of latch 90 to yieldably hold the roller 86 biased into the notch 84, and against the track 82 of disc 80 when the latter is rotating. The track 82 slopes inwardly toward the notch 84 as at 82a.

A releasing device mounted on the shaft20 consists of an elongated arm having a laterally extending rod 102 secured thereto adjacent its lowermost end and normally disposed between the last sheet or leaf 16a of the pack 18 and the nextto the last sheet thereof. Ann 100 is attached to the shaft 20 for swinging movement relative thereto on an axis parallel with the axis of rotation of the shaft 20 through :the medium of a pivot pin 104 on the arm 100 journaledin cars or lateralprojections, 106

or access door 22 by a spring 112 and suitable means 114 for adjusting the tension of the spring 112. A braking band 116 is secured to the band 110 in engagement with the circular periphery 83 of the disc 80.

' Except for the improvements hereinabovc described,

' the basicoperation of the apparatus is essentially the same as in the disclosures of the aforementioned patents. When motor 54 is energized, the suction means 52, as well as the shaft 44, are driven continuously with sprocket wheel 46 rotating in an anti-clockwise direction viewing Fig. 1.

Assuming the pack 18 to be disposed as shown in Fig. l, suction means 52 will pull the lowermost end of the first leaf 16b toward the air inlet 62 of chamber 60, whereupon, as the cross rods 50 move upwardly, they will be disposed between the first sheet 1612 and the remaining leaves 16 of the pack 18. The rods 50 carry the sheet 16b upwardly and thence rearwardly and downwardly over the semi-circular shell 76, the first leaf 16b being thereby looped upon the covering 78 and because of the nature of the latter, the printing, pictorial illustrations, and the like appearing on the face of the leaf 161), will not be damaged.

As soon as the first sheet or leaf 16b is thus turned, the suction means 52 will similarly pull the second leaf forwardly toward the air. inlet 62, thereby placing such second leaf in position for receiving the rollers 50 when the same again commence ascending from the sprocket wheels 46 to the sprocket wheels 36 and 38.

During such successive turning of the leaves 16 over the shell 76, the shaft 20 is held against rotation by the latch 90 having its roller 86 disposed within the notch 84 of disc 80, it being remembered that disc 80 is secured rigidly to the shaft 20, Whereas the sprocket wheels 36 and 38 rotate freely on the shaft 20.

The releasing meansthat includes arm 100 and its cam 108 is so mounted on the shaft 20 as to always tend to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction viewing Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, and therefore, the rod 102 is continuously biased toward the front of the machine or the transparent panel 12.

Accordingly, the rod 102 assumes the position shown. in Fig. 2 of the drawings when all of the leaves 16, except the last leaf 16a, has been turned over the shell 76. As the rods 50 tend to raise the sheet 16a and pull the same away from the inlet 62 of chamber 60, the rod 102 will progressively move toward the viewing panel 12 until the arm 1.00 is within the path of travel of at least one of the rods 50. Such rod 50 swings the arm 100 with respect to the shaft 20 in an anti-clockwise direction viewing Figs. 2 and 3, until the cam 108 engages the roller 96 to swing the latching means 90 on its vertical axis, thereby releasing the roller 86 from within the notch 84.

Arm 100 can only swing in an anti-clockwise direction with respect to the shaft 20 to a limited extent and, therefore, after release of the roller 86, and as. one of the rods 50 causes the arm 100 to continue such swinging movement, shaft 20 and disc 80 will be rotated therewith anti clockwise as seen in Fig. 3.

This rotation of shaft 20 turns the binder or clamp means 7072 of the pack 18 in the manner shown by Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 1 as the last leaf 16a is turned.

While the disc rotates, and after the cam 108 moves out of engagement with the roller 96, spring 98 will hold the roller .86 biased against the track 82 and after the disc 80 nears the end of its complete cycle of rotation the roller 86 will ride along the inclined surface 82a of track 82 and ultimately into the notch 94 where the disc 80 and the shaft 20 are again held against rotation.

During this last step of the complete cycle of operation of the apparatus, the shaft 20, the clamping means or binding 70-72 for the pack 18,.the arm and the disc 80, are retarded in speed of rotation by the action of the brake that includes band 116 in frictional engagement with the periphery 83 of disc 80.

Through the medium of the improvements herein shown and hereinabove described, the leaf turner may be initially placed in operation and it will continue turning the leaves 16 and rotating the entire pack as shown in Fig. 3, to the position shown in Fig. 1 without operator attention and in complete absence of misperformancc, particularly during the crucial step of releasing the shaft 20 for rotation and again locking the same against rotation prior to turning of the first leaf 16b over the shell 76 and its covering 78.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a leaf turner having a support, a shaft rotatably mounted on the support suspending a pack of leaves to be turned, structure for folding the leaves one at a time over the shaft, and means operated by the structure for rotating the shaft as the last leaf of the pack is turned, the combination with said structure and said shaft of releasable locking mechanism for holding the shaft against rotation and including a member secured to the shaft for rotation therewith, and a latch movably mounted on the support and normally in locking engagement with said member; and means shiftable to and from a position engaging the latch to move the same out of locking engagement with the member and thereby permit the shaft to be rotated as said last leaf is turned.

2. In a leaf turner having a support, a shaft rotatably mounted on the support suspending a pack of leaves to be turned, structure for folding the leaves one at a time over the shaft, and means operated by the structure for rotating the shaft as the last leaf of the pack is turned, the combination with said structure and said shaft of releasable locking mechanism for holding the shaft against rotation and including a member secured to the shaft for rotation therewith, and a latch movably mounted on the support and normally in locking engagement with said member; and means swingable on the shaft to and from a position engaging the latch to move the same out of locking engagementwith the member and thereby permit the shaft to be rotated as said last leaf is turned.

3. In a leaf turner having a support, a shaft rotatably mounted on the support suspending a pack of leaves to be turned, structure for folding the leaves one at a time over the shaft, and means operated bythe structure for rotating the shaft as the last leaf of the pack is turned, the combination with said structure and said shaft of releasable locking mechanism for holding the shaft against rotation and including a member secured to the shaft for rotation therewith, and a latch movably mounted on the support and normally in locking engagement with said member; means shiftable to and from a position engaging the latch to move the same out of locking engagement with the member and thereby permit the shaft to be rotated as said last leaf is turned; and brake means engaging the member for retarding the speed of rotation thereof after release of the latch and upon rotation of the shaft.

4. In a leaf turner having a support, a shaft rotatably mounted on the support suspending a pack of leaves to be turned, structure forfolding the leaves one at a time over the shaft, and means operated by the structurefor I rotating the shaft as the last leaf of the pack is turned, the combination with said structure and said shaft of releasable locking mechanism for holding the shaft against rotation and including a member secured to the shaft for rotation therewith, and a latch movably mounted on the support and normally in locking engagement with said member; means shiftable to and from a position engaging the latch to move the same out of locking engagement with the member and thereby permit the shaft to be rotated as said last leaf is turned; and means for yieldably holding the latch in locking engagement with the member.

5. In a leaf turner having a support, a shaft rotatably mounted on the support suspending a pack of leaves to be turned, structure for folding the leaves one at a time over the shaft, and means operated by the structure for rotating the shaft as the last leaf of the pack is turned, the combination with said structure and said shaft of releasable locking mechanism for holding the shaft against rotation and including a member secured to the shaft for rotation therewith, and a latch movably mounted on the support and normally in looking engagement with said member; a releasing device swingably carried by the shaft; and means on the device engageable with the latch upon swinging of the device in one direction relative to the shaft for camming the latch out of locking engagement with the member and thereby permit the shaft to be rotated as said last leaf is turned.

6. In a leaf turner having a support, a shaft rotatably mounted on the support suspending a pack of leaves to be turned and structure for folding the leaves one at a time over the shaft, the combination with said structure and said shaft of releasable locking mechanism for holding the shaft against rotation and including a member secured to the shaft for rotation therewith, and a latch movably mounted on the support and normally in looking engagement with said member; a device engageable with said structure as the last leaf of the pack is turned for rotating the shaft therewith; means mounting the device for limited swinging movement relative to the shaft; means on the device engageable with the latch upon swinging of the device in one direction relative to the shaft for moving the latch out of locking engagement with the member; and means for swinging the device relative to the shaft to release the latch and thereupon continued swinging movement to rotate the shaft as the last leaf is turned.

7. In a leaf turner having a support, a shaft rotatably mounted on the support suspending a pack of leaves to be turned; means attaching the shaft to the support for rotation relative thereto; releasable locking mechanism for holding the shaft against rotation and including a member secured to the shaft for rotation therewith, and a latch movably mounted on the support and normally in locking engagement with the said member; a device engageable with said structure as the last leaf of the pack is turned for rotating the shaft therewith; means mounting the device for limited swinging movement relative to the shaft; means on the device engageable with the latch upon swinging of the device in one direction relative to the shaft for moving the latch out of locking engagement with the member; means for swinging the device relative to the shaft to release the latch and thereupon continued swinging movement to rotate the shaft; and brake means engaging the member for retarding the speed of rotation thereof after release of the latch and upon rotation of the shaft as the last leaf is turned.

8. In a leaf turner having a support, a shaft rotatably mounted on the support suspending a pack of leaves to be turned, structure for folding the leaves one at a time over the shaft, and means operated by the structure for rotating the shaft as the last leaf of the pack is turned, the combination with said structure and said shaft of releasable locking mechanism for holding the shaft against rotation and including a latch swingable on the support and a locking disc secured to the shaft for rotation therewith and provided with a latch-receiving notch; and means engageable with the latch for swinging the same out of the notch and thereby permit the shaft to be rotated as said last leaf is turned.

9. In a leaf turner having a support, a shaft rotatably mounted on the support suspending a pack of leaves to be turned, structure for folding the leaves one at a time over the shaft, and means operated by the structure for rotating the shaft as the last leaf of the pack is turned, the combination with said structure and said shaft of releasable locking mechanism for holding the shaft against rotation and including a latch swingable on the support and having a roller there-on, and a locking disc secured to the shaft for rotation therewith and provided with a track having a notch normally receiving the roller; means engageable with the latch for swinging the same out of the notch and thereby permit the shaft to be rotated as said last leaf is turned; and a spring bearing against the latch for holding the roller biased against the track as the disc rotates.

10. In a leaf turner having a support, a shaft rotatably mounted on the support suspending a pack of leaves to be turned, structure for folding the leaves one at a time over the shaft, and means operated by the structure for rotating the shaft as the last leaf of the pack is turned, the combination with said structure and said shaft of releasable locking mechanism for holding the shaft against rotation and including a latch swingable on the support and having a roller thereon, and a locking disc secured to the shaft for rotation therewith and provided with a track having a notch normally receiving the roller; means engageable with the latch for swinging the same out of the notch and thereby permit the shaft to be rotated as said last leaf is turned; and a brake band bearing against the periphery of the disc for retarding the rate of rotation thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,306,210 Gabin Dec. 22, 1942 2,551,485 Boyd May 1, 1951 2,574,013 Boyd Nov. 6, 1951 

